Photographic apparatus for treating a sheet with a liquid



Feb. 1, 1966 R. J. CHEN 3,232,195

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR TREATING A SHEET WITH A LIQUID Filed Feb. '7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i mm:

. INVENTOR,

Feb. 1, 1966 R. J. CHEN 3,232,195

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR TREATING A SHEET WITH A LIQUID Filed Feb. 7, 1964 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 54 un so se 54 ,f 56

5L .n FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

WM Mz 604,4/ M d ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,232,195- PHQFEQGRAPHEC APPARAt-'EUS EUR. TREATlNG A SHEET!! WITH A. LIQUID Richard I'. (Zhen, Brockton,- Mass., assigner to Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Massq a corporation' of Delaware Filed Feb. 7,` N64, Ser. No; 343,349 Claims. (Clg 9'S--1f3) This invention: relatesVv to` photographic apparatuszfor exposing. successive areas: ot av photosensitive image-recording sheet. and treating. the exposedy areas withu a viscous liquid distributed in contactwitlr saidl areas.,

A number'ot types; of'photographic apparatus haveY been proposed including, for example, cameras, document copiers` and"y the like; in which successive. areask of a photosensitiveffimage-recording sheet. are exposed. and each exposed area is'. treated with a viscous. liquid distributed in: contacts therewith. preferably to produce a transfer image in. an area. of a secondi` sheet-v superposed Witl'r the image-recording sheet. The viscous. liquid is distributed in contact with an areav towbe" treated by protgressively superposing the area4 with another surface, usually the surface of `a second sheet, and pressing the two sheets together along aline progressively from one edge of the area toward the `opposite edge of the area by moving the sheets into superposition relative' to and between a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members. A predetermined quantity of the viscous liquid. is sup- [plied tothe sheets interinediaite the sheets near` the hne at which the sheets are brought into superposition preferably .as -a uniformlyl distributed elogated. mass' extending from side to side of the areas.. The of liquid remains substantially stationary with respect to the pressure-applying members as the sheets are advanced relative to and between them in conta-ot. with .the mass of liquid. The liquid employed' usually includes Water and photographic processing agen-ts which are highly alkaline, oxidize readily and are rendered quite viscous by the inclusion oi an agent swch 'as' a lhigh molecular weight compound, eg., sodium. oarbloxyrnethyl cellulose, which tends to lharden when thewater (or other solvent) evaporates or is absorbed. fromv the liquid. Such. a liquid obviously presents numerous problems of storage, handling and dispensing as required, as well las subsequent distribution in contact with an larea of a sheet'. This last step 'will be facilitated if the viscous liquid is dispensed as a uniformly distributed elongated mass extendinn from side to side of the area to be treated. Y

In `the apparatus of the type of whichl the present invention is concerned, the image-recording sheet (andi socond sheet) is moved 'throughthe apparatusV intermittently and the interval between exposure and processing ot" 'a particular area and exposure and processing of the next succeed-nig area may vary substantially, for example, lfroin seconds to days. This characteristic of. the apparatos `further complicates the problems involved in storage, handling and dispensing a highly viscous, corrosive, oxidizable and Iair hardening liquid.

In the oopendinng U.S. patent application of' Robert M. Briber, Ser-iai No. 343,367, tiled February 7,. 1964, entitled Photographic Apparatus for Treating a Sheet With a Liquid, there is described apparatus tor dispensing successive, predetermined yquantities off aviscous photo- "ice graphicv processing' liquid onto a' `sheet as aV succession of' uniformly distributed',` elongated masses ofv predetermined lengths extending transversely of Ithedirefction of movement oriV they sheet. In this apparatus, a viscous processing liquid -ils dispensed' from successive' sections of predetermined length fof a single, elongated, disposable, tubular container lledwith theA liquid, whereas the practice has been 'to-dispense' .the processing-liquidv from Ithe trailing end ot a container as .therlfatter is moved in the direction of its other (leading)` end across a sheet'. The trailing end is usually unconiined 'and unguided during movement and may notlnrove'in a straightl line therebyl dispensing a curved, ratherV than the desired straight, (massv of li'qiud. Then apparatus described includes'. means )tier supporting andv guiding both. ends of successive sections of a tubular container' as the 4liquid is dispensed frorn'- each of said sections during movement thermot relative to and? acrossasurface on which the liquid is dispensed.

An object of thepresent invention is tol provide photographic` apparatus larsdescribed including novel and improved moans for opening-.successive sections of a tubular container at the trailing end ofi each of said sections so that the liquid can: :be dispensed from each ot said. sections as-an elongated, uniformly distributed; mass.

Another object of the invention is to provide means inthe form of a punch and die for openingftfhe-foontainer in such a way asto' remain :free ofcontaniination4 by the liquid `con-tents ofi the container.`

Other objects of thel invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear. hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing. the constrnetion, yoornbinaltion oi. elements. and arrangement of parts-which are-.exempliiied in the following detailed. disclosure, and the scope of thei applieation of which will be indicated in.' the claims.

Hor.- a ullerunderst-anding of the nature and objects oli the invention, reference should.; be hadrto theziioll'owing-dotailed-deseription takeninioonnectiont with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation' View showing in section and somewhat schematically, photographic. apparatus em"- lnodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is` a sectional View takenI substantially along the linie. 2-2 of FIG. l.;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of, a= device incorporated in the apparatus;

FIG. 4' is a yfragmentary perspectiveview of. the device oi FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 isan; elevation view"v off a componentof: a de'- vice of FIG. 3;`

FIG.- 6 -isvan enlarged view similar tiov 2 showing in` detail componentsof,` the apparatus;

FlGr-- 7 is 'a view partial-'lyin section showing a component of the apparatus; and

FIG. S-inolnd'esfragmentary planandelevation views of aseotion of a container employed in the-apparatus.

The liquid-supplying and." dispensing system incorporating theinvention maybe embodied in photographic ap.- pa-ratus such asa camera, printing;l or document-copying apparatus in which successive areas of a photosensitive image-recording sheet are exposed: and advanced into superposition witli successive areas ot a second sheet and the' two sheets; arernoved between a pair ofv juxtaposed pressure-applying members for distributing a process-ing liquid between superposed areas of the sheets. 'I'he proccessing of the image-recording sheet by a liquid may result in the production of a positive image on the second sheet Vby diffusion transfer process in which image-forming substances are transferred from the image-recording sheet to the second sheet. For examples of such processes reference may be had to U. S. Patents Nos. 2,543,- 181, issued February 27, 1951, and 2,662,822, issued December 15, 1953, both in the name of Edwin H. Land. In the apparatus of the invention a predetermined quantity of processing liquid to be distributed between and in contact with each pair of superposed areas of the imagerecording and second sheets is provided on one of the sheets adjacent an edge of the area thereof over which the liquid is to be distributed, in the form of a uniformly distributed, elongated mass extending substantially in a straight line from side to side olf the area. The liquiddispensing system of the invention is designed to provide successive, predetermined quantities of the liquid in this manner for distribution between successive superposed areas of the image-recording and second sheets, and to dispense accurate quantities of the liquid in precisely arranged masses at specific locations on one of the sheets; and utilizes a disposable container in which suicient liquid is supplied to process a predetermined number of areas of the image-recording sheet.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein there is illustrated, somewhat schematically, photographic apparatus embodying the invention for exposing and processing an image-recording sheet. 'Ihe apparatus comprises a spool for holding a supply of photosensitive image-recording sheet material 12, and guide means 14 for locating successive areas of the imagerecording sheet in position for exposure to light from a suitable exposure means shown as lens 16; it being understood, however, that the exposure and guide means may include any of the conventional systems for holding and exposing photosensitive sheet material including exposure systems of cameras, printers, document copiers and the like. The apparatus includes a second spool 18 for holding a supply of a second or print-receiving sheet 20 and a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members in the form of rolls 22 between which the photosensitive and second sheets are advanced in superposition for distributing a processing liquid between the sheets to form a sandwich. The sandwich is advanced from rolls 22 a predetermined distance within the housing and thence through an exit passage 23 provided in the housing with suitable light seals such as flocking and the like. The apparatus also includes a cutting device comprising a rotary knife 24 and anvil 26 for severing successive portions of the sandwich, each including an exposed area of the image-recording sheet, from the remaining portions of the sheets so that the portions of the sheets comprising the sandwich may be separated from one another at the end of a processing period of predetermined duration. The apparatus may include other conventional components commonly associated with cameras, printing devices or document-copying devices, together with means for driving rolls 22 and/or other means for advancing the two sheets and the sandwich through the apparatus during and intermediate exposure and processing, and a housing for supporting and enclosing the operative components of the apparatus and the light-sensitive sheet material employed in the apparatus.

The fluid-dispensing system is located in position for dispensing a viscous liquid onto the image-recording sheet intermediate guide means 14 and rolls 22 adjacent the rolls. In the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the liquid-dispensing means comprise a spool 28 mounted above sheet 12 for holding a supply of an elongated tubular container 30 filled with a viscous processing liquid designated 32. The processing liquid may consist Y of one or more of a variety of chemical agents useful in photography, and may include, for example, an aqueous alkaline solution of a silver halide developer and a silver halide complexing agent. The liquid also includes a viscosity-adding agent such as a high molecular Weight material, for example, sodium carboxymet-hyl cellulose preferably in a quantity sufficient to give the liquid a jellylike consistency such that the liquid, under normal conditions, iiows very slowly or not at all. A viscosity at 20 C. in the range 100-200,000 centipoises is suggested by way of example of a suitably viscosity.

Tubular container 30 is formed of a material which is flexible, preferably resilient, compatible with the processing liquid and impermeable to the liquid, the vapor thereof and air. Suitable materials for this purpose are or- |ganic plastics and many elastomers, and as an example of a particular material, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylidene such as sold by Dow Chemical Company under the trade name Saran has been found to be especially useful. 'Ilhe container may have almost any cross-sectional coniiguration although rounded cross sections are preferred so long as the internal cross-sectional area is substantially uniform throughout the liquidcontaining portion of the tubular container. The material comprising the container and the shape of the container are such that substantially all of the liquid contents of the container can be extruded therefrom by progressively compressing or pinching theV container. The liquid within a section of the'container is dispensed as an elongated mass approximately equal in length to the section from which it is dispensed and, accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the container is governed by the quantity of the liquid required to be dispensed in a mass of predetermined length.

The liquid-dispensing means in the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 comprise a guide roll 34 located adjacent one edge of sheet 12 and a guide bar 36 located adjacent the opposite edge of the sheet for supporting a section of container 30 transversely of the direction of movement of the sheet and closely adjacent the sheet. Guide roll 34 preferably includes a groove 38 in its periphery shaped to conform to the external shape of container 30 so as to prevent compression of the container as the container is drawn in tension around the guide roll in the groove. The liquid-dispensing means include means for drawing the container from spool 28 around guide roll 34 across sheet 12 and around guide bar 36, comprising a drive roll 40 mounted above guide bar 36. Drive roll 40 is provided on its periphery with radially projecting pins 42 having sharpened points for piercing the container to provide a secure engagement with the container for moving the container, when drive roll 4d is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (viewing FIG. 6). Container 30, from which the lliquid has been ejected, is advanced from drive roll 4% to a take-up spool 44 shown mounted coaxially with supply spool 28.

Guide bar 36 includes a relatively sharp corner 46 around and against which the container is drawn to compress and ilatten the container for squeezing the liquid contents of the container therefrom. Guide bar 36 also includes flanges 48 adjacent corner 46 for guiding container 30 around the corner and preventing the container from coming olf the guidebar. The container is emptied at corner 46 so that drive roll 4@ and pins 42, which engage the emptied container, may be subject to contamination by any of the liquid which may remain adhered to the outside of the container in the region of the opening therein through which the liquid is dispensed. It is for this reason that positive engagement means in the fonn of pi-ns 42 are provided for engaging and advancing the container rather than a drive depending on friction to advance the container.

The Huid-dispensing means also include means adjacent the edge of the sheet nearest guide roll 34 for forming an opening in the container, preferably in the lower portion thereof,.at least equal in area to the internal cross-sectional area of the `container through which the liquid is ejected from the container. I-n 'the form shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, 'these last-mentioned means feomprise a punch Si? `and die 52 mounted juxtaposition with one another adjacent `opposite sides of the path of movement of container 3i). The punch and die are mounted for movement toward 4'one another land the container on pivoted levers 54 and are biased apart from one another by springs 56. A cam 58 is provided for pivoting the levers so as to move the punch and die toward one another into engagement with'container 30. Die 52 `is formed in the side facing container 30 with a channel 60 having a U- shaped cross section conforming to the external cross section of the container for engaging the containerand preventing movement thereof relative to the die during a punching operation. Punch 56 includes a cylindrical sec-V tion 62 which cooperates with a cylindrical channel 64 in the lower side of die 52 to engage and cut a semi-circular notch 66 (see FIG. 8) in the lower portion of container 3i) when the punch and die are moved toward one another into engagement with the container so that cylindrical section 62 enters cylindrical channel 64. Notch 66 is also an ellipsoidal opening 66 and although the punch and die cut a notch in a portion of container 30 filled with the liquid, the punch and die tend to remain relatively free of the liquid inasmuch as the punch and die, upon first engaging the container, pinch the container so as to squeeze the liquid from between portions of the wall of the container which is eut to form opening 66. For this reason, the punch passes through little if any liquid so that there is little or no accumulation of liquid on the punch and die. Movement of the punch and die horizontally into and from engagement with a container and the viscosity of the liquid, preferably such as to prevent ow of the liquid from the opening, contribute to insuring that the punch vand die remain free of contamination by the liquid.

The punch and die are preferably located so as to form an opening in the container between guide roll 34 and the edge of sheet 12 very close to the edge of the sheet so that the section of container 3) punched out to form opening 66 does not fall onto the sheet. Means (not shown) may be provided between the sheet and punch and die for collecting punched-out sections of the container. To process an exposed area of image-recording sheet i2, cam 58 is rotated to move punch 56 and die 52 toward one another into engagement with the container and one another to form an opening 66 in the container adjacent an edge of sheet i2. Immediately upon withdrawal of the punch and die from engagement with the container, and while the sheet remains stationary, drive roll 40 is rotated to draw container 30 around corner 46 of guide bar 36 compressing the container at the corner and ejecting the liquid contents of the section of the container between the guide bar and opening 66 through opening 66 as the container and opening move across sheet 12. Liquid 32, being quite viscous, is extruded from container 30 directly into contact with sheet 12 to form an elongated rnass extending substantially from side to side of the sheet, or from side to side of the exposed area thereof; and since the section of the container from which the liquid is dispensed is supported at both ends, this mass of liquid is bound to be straight. The container is advanced around guide bar 36 until the portion of container 30 including opening 66 is just past corner 46. The tension on the container is maintained so that the portion of the container bent around corner 46 is pinched closed effectively sealing the container against escape of the liquid and thel admission of air to the container. In the event this seal is less than perfect some of the liquid (eg, water) may evaporate from the portion of the liquid immediately adjacent corner 46 causing the liquid to solidify in this area and helping to form a seal preventing further evaporation of the liquid and/ or the admission of air to the container.

It should be noted that guide bar 36 and drive roll 4'@ and pins `42 thereon engage the side (upper) of the container opposite opening 66 so ythat the opportunity for contamination Iof the guide bar, drive roll and pins by liquid remaining within the container in the Yregion of opening 66 or adhered to the exterior of the container in the region of opening 66 is minimized. Immediately following dispensing of an elongated mass of Vthe liquid onto sheet 12, the sheet is immediately advanced into superposition with sheet 20 between rolls 22 and the mass of "liquid is carried "by `sheet 12 into the vbite Yof the rolls between the vconvergent portions of the `two sheets to form a menisous which re-mains substantially stationary as the sheets move between the rolls. Rolls 22 may be constructed to spread the liquid from this meniscus as a thin layer between the sheets or the rolls may be constructed to squeeze the major portion of the viscous materiai from between the sheets while the sheets absorb the liquid from the mass as they move in contact with the mass of liquid. The two sheets are pressed together to form a sandwich which is advanced between knife 24 and anvil 26 until the exposed area has been advanced between rolls 22 and the knife and anvil whereupon knife 24 is rotated to sever the sandwich. The sandwich, depending upon the materials employed and the process performed, may be advanced directly from the apparatus at rolls 22, or may be advanced `into a processing chamber within the apparatus from whence the 'sandwich may be withdrawn when processing is complete. The sheets comprising the sandwich are separated from one another at the end of the processing period during which, for example, a positive transfer print is formed in second sheet 26.

it is possible and may be desirable, in the embodiment of the invention shown, to commence the advancement of sheet 12 relative to container 30 as opening 66 approaches the edge of the sheet while the container is still moving. Because the liquid is viscous and tends to adhere to the sheet in preference to adhering to the container, this premature movement of sheet 12 tends to withdraw the liquid from the container in the region of opening 66 (which remains open) while wiping the liquid from the exterior of the container so that the opportunity for contamination of guide bar 36 and drive roll #t0 is further reduced. In this last-mentioned embodiment, the ange 48 on the side of guide bar 36 closest rolls 22 is preferably omitted since it might otherwise come into :contact with the liquid.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus for treating successive exposed areas of a photographic image-recording sheet with a viscous liquid dispensed from an elongated tube filled with said liquid, including a pair of guide members for supporting successive sections of said tube at their ends adjacent said sheet, means for moving said sections of said tube lengthwise relative to and across said sheet toward one of said guide members and means for engaging said tube in the region of said one guide member to discharge said liquid from said section onto said sheet through an opening in said tube at the trailing end of said section during movement thereof relative to said sheet, in combination:

a punch and die mounted in horizontal juxtaposition intermediate said guide members adjacent the other of said guide members on opposite sides of said tube for relative movement toward one another into en gagement with a lower portion of said tube at said trailing end of said section to form an opening in said lower portion of said tube through which said liquid is discharged onto said sheet.

2. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said punch and die are so constructed as to punch a hole in said tube having an area at least equal to the internal crosssectional area of said tube.

3. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said punch and die are positioned and constructed for engaging and punching a generally elliptical hole in the lower portion of the Wall of said tube.

4. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said die includes means for engaging and restraining said tube 5. The photographic apparatus ofV claim l in which said guide members are located for supporting said section of said tube in a generally horizontal position, and said means l for engaging said tube include pressure means for acting against said tube in a generally horizonal plane.

No references cited.

10 JOHN M.v HoRAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUCCESSIVE EXPOSED AREAS OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE-RECORDING SHEET WITH A VISCOUS LIQUID DISPENSED FROM AN ELONGATED TUBE FILLED WITH SAID LIQUID, INCLUDING A PAIR OF GUIDE MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS OF SAID TUBE AT THEIR ENDS ADJACENT SAID SHEET, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECTIONS OF SAID TUBE LENGTHWISE RELATIVE TO AND ACROSS SAID SHEET TOWARD ONE OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID TUBE IN THE REGION OF SAID ONE GUIDE MEMBER TO DISCHARGE SAID LIQUID FROM SAID SECTION ONTO SAID SHEET THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID TUBE AT THE TRAILING END OF SAID SECTION DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID SHEET, IN COMBINATION: A PUNCH AND DIE MOUNTED IN HORIZONTAL JUXTAPOSITION INTERMEDIATE SAID GUIDE MEMBERS ADJACENT THE OTHER OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TUBE FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD ONE ANOTHER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBE AT SAID TRAILING END OF SAID SECTION TO FORM AN OPENING IN SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID TUBE THROUGH WHICH SAID LIQUID IS DISCHARGED ONTO SAID SHEET. 